DIY Walking Stick

Walking sticks are used by individuals as a means to steady themselves on rough or uneven ground. From a trip to the garden to scrambling over small boulders in the back country, walking sticks provide additional support and balance. Many people enjoy making and customizing walking sticks at home. Dried wood-limbs used for walking sticks are typically collected from a wooded yard, lot or forest.

Things You'll Need

  • 2- to 3-inch diameter dried limb
  • Pencil
  • Saw
  • Knife
  • Sand paper
  • Drill with bit
  • Polyurethane sealer
  • Brush
  • Leather cord
  • Furniture tip
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Instructions

    • 1

      Hold your arm down to your side; bend your elbow at a 90-degree angle to the front. Hold the dried limb you have chosen to use as a walking stick. Mark a point on the limb 3 to 4 inches above your hand with a pencil.

    • 2

      Cut the limb with a fine-tooth saw at the marked point. Peel the bark from the limb, and remove any small limbs or rough areas with a knife.

    • 3

      Sand the entire length of the limb with sandpaper. Begin with a medium-grit sandpaper; switch to a fine grit to smooth the limb.

    • 4

      Drill a hole through the walking stick 2 inches from the top. Use a hand drill with a 3/8-inch bit to make the hole.

    • 5

      Apply a thin, even coat of polyurethane clear-coat to the entire length of the walking stick; use a brush. Allow the polyurethane to dry overnight. Follow the manufacturer's recommendations for specific drying times.

    • 6

      Insert a length of leather cord through the hole in the walking stick; tie the ends together to form a loop. Place a rubber furniture tip on the end of the stick for extra traction, and to protect the wood on the end of the stick.